Some scrapping!

Wow what a week!  Nothing terrible has happened don't worry, it has just been a very full on week with lots happening.

Firstly DD has had M her French exchange student staying and my French has not improved, it remains virtually non-existent!  I actually studied German at school and boy does it show!!!  Thank goodness for Google Translate.  It has been interesting to watch 2 French girls versus 2 English girls playing Pictionary and using Google Translate (which didn't always work!).  Who knew that you cannot translate Korma or Nan or Tikka Marsala or any other type of curry (they didn't like what they ordered very much but then who eats prawn korma anyway???)  Seriously I think they have had a great week with days out, parties and fun socialising and today they have been at Thorpe Park.

On the crafting front I have made a serious commitment, I thought about it for a long time and was watching and waiting for the right opportunity to come along.  Finally I jumped in... I have joined a team on UKS!!!  I have been a member of UKS for a while but really go there in isolation and rarely comment.  I was adopted at one point but was then deserted so I never really got involved in anything and just hung around the shopping boards.  Now I have joined the Craftoholics and am really happy that 2 of my blogging buddies also joined.... one co-incidentally and the other with encouragement...can you guess who they are????  So I have gone for it and joined in with a challenge, scrapping a birthday, using an old piece of paper, 4 of something and a colour of the weather

The papers used are all quite old I think, this is DS on his 10th birthday and it isn't the best photo but the only one I have of him blowing out his candles so it also fits Shimelle's challenge 15 and I have used 4 different types of stickers (and 4 patterned papers on the background one! so fits in with challenge 2 mixing up paper collections) and I went for yellow and blue to remind me of the sun in a blue sky.  Yay my first UKS challenge completed!!!

I also made these pages, inspired by Shimelle's online crop last weekend..........

this was made using my own simple sketch for lesson one of just one sketch (such fun!) a monochromatic page that uses SJ's printable for my journalling (completed post photo to keep secret as usual!) so Shimelle's 13th challenge.  Plus it uses up lots of scraps (challenge 16) my favourite being the upper left circle shape that is the offcut from the sticker (half of which is used just above the photo)  I actually love this LO and it really reminds me of the beauty of Antigua.

this page still make me squirm slightly as I went out of my comfort zone to mix up my style (challenge 3).  I don't often use flowers I don't really think I am very girly and I have never used twine across the page (I used my original sketch from the previous page and rotated it to create this one) I normally don't do bright and bold colours but encouraged by the bright bathing suits and challenge 10, I used the bright green and the crazy reddy patterned paper!

Finally I used the March ANFSCD page by Shimelle (challenge 9) and used  new stamps that I have had sitting in a basket for ever (challenge 8) and I actually like how this one came out...just!

Phew what fun I have had this week, hope I get to do some more next week but it looks like another busy one!!!  PS Am I allowed to enter a LO into more than one of Shimelle's challenges???

Family 12x12 blog hop April 2012

Oh dear I am really late to the party this month! I signed up for the blog hop then completely forgot about it! I am just home from work so please forgive me....

Thank you Margie for hosting the family photo blog hops, it really is a great reminder to capture the four of us together and so far this year I have been keeping up yay!

Hopefully you should have arrived here via Patricia's blog, in case you get confused this is the way to hop (very appropriate for Easter ... a hopping bunny!)

Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com

Patricia http://patoliveira.wordpress.com/

Ruth http://www.chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.com

Jo http://www.mrsbeee.blogspot.com (she will post late, so be sure to check back)

In March we visited Denbies Wine Estate, an amazing English vineyard set in the Surrey countryside. The geology is similar to the Champagne region and the estate produces award winning wines of an exceptionally hight standard. We had a wine tasting tour, which was interesting and informative (though the children only had grape juice!) and we bought a few bottles of the wonderful wine to consume at home!

As we left I took a photo of the 4 of us amongst the vines, not a brilliant shot but the best I have for March.

I am now off to catch up with everyone else's March family photos and I hope you do too xxx

Redoing storytelling Sunday April as it is in March on blogger instead of April!

Story Telling Sunday April

It was an ordinary day, just like any other. In fact so indistinguishable from any other day that I cannot tell you the date or even the day now. I was home alone, the children were at school, husband at work, a normal afternoon. The telephone rang and I answered it. I had won a holiday!

Off course I had won holidays before, I was familiar with the cold call announcing an amazing win. The caller always explained the fabulous prize, then explained the catch! Sometimes a compulsory attendance for 2 people at a London based seminar (read sales event) and/ or all flights and taxes had to be paid by me ......... so not really a free holiday at all!!

This caller claimed to be from a travel agent (one I had never heard off),she said I had won a holiday for 2 people to New Zealand (not very believable) and that it was the prize in acompetition I had entered (which I didn't even recall!) I listened intently for the catch to come but it didn't. I gave a few of my details said I would discuss it with my husband and the 'travel agent' would call me again.

I immediately looked up the travel agency online and it seemed to be real. I looked up the competition I had entered and it clearly existed, the prize from an online lingerie company no less... a holiday of a lifetime and rather expensive swimwear. I spoke to my husband and we decided to watch and wait.

I was still in denial when we arrived at the airport, I expected to be told there were no flights, no holiday and no win. But it was all real! I had indeed won an all expenses trip for a week to New

Zealand.

We didn't take many photos, we missed the children dreadfully, we wished we had extended our stay (we did manage 10 days in the end) and we really loved the small part of New Zealand we saw.

Hundreds of dolphins (with a few whales) on a boat trip from Auckland

A vineyard tour on the Island of Waiheke

A rainbow over the Coromandel

This is my second story about winning, last month was all about my mum winning a car, this time it was all about me! I think our winning streak has now run out! Also just in case you are interested I never did get any of the expensive swimwear I was meant to win but it didn't really matter!

Please visit Sian's blog from High in the sky for more story telling Sunday tales from around the globe xxx

It's party time!!! International Virtual Pot Luck Blog Hop!

Hullo and welcome to my blog, I guess you are travelling around the globe visiting all these amazing bloggers and their tasty treats. So far you should have had your drinks/appetizers, your soups/salads, your sides/main dishes and now you are on to desserts (aka sweets/puds/cake all things naughty and yummy!!). Hopefully you arrived here from Stephanie.

Here is the complete list in case you missed anyone or have got a wee bit lost with all the international jet setting!

Drinks/Appetizers

Deb @ PaperTurtle – http://paperturtle.blogspot.com

Rinda @ Gallo Organico – http://gallorganico.blogspot.com/

Beverly @ BE glorious - http://beglorious.blogspot.com/

Soups/Salads

Alison @ Life in the Slow Lane – http://alisonslife-in-the-slow-lane.blogspot.com/

Fiona @ Staring at the Sea – http://fiona-staringatthesea.blogspot.com/

Amy @ Over at our Place - http://overatourplace.blogspot.com/

Side/Main Dishes

The “Not So” Small One @ From High in the Sky – http://fromhighinthesky.blogspot.com/

Jacky @ Scrappy Jacky - http://scrappyjackylive.blogspot.com/

Deb @ Deb’s World – http://debs14.blogspot.com/

Ginger @ Ginger’s Life of Spice - http://gingerslifeofspice.blogspot.com/

Karen @ Tales from the Scrapheap - http://talesfromthescrapheap.blogspot.com/

Karen @ Random Reflections - http://kbwalker.blogs.com/random_relfections/

Ruth @ Everyday Life of a Suburban SAHM - http://suburbansahm.blogspot.com/

Desserts

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita - http://dreamingladolcevita.blogspot.com/

Ruth @ Chatty Crafty Arty Pig - http://chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.com/

Margaret @ Finnegan Begin Again – http://margaretfinnegan.blogspot.com/

Becca @ La Jolie Fleur Rouge - http://lajoliefleurrouge.blogspot.com/

Rhona @ Life in General - http://rhonacs-lifeingeneral.blogspot.com/

Cheri @ Scrap Dreams - http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com/

Carrie @ Rosalind Revival – http://www.rosalindrevival.com/

This blog hop was organised by the wonderful Deb at Paper Turtle over in Arizona USA, please take time to look at her blog as it is an inspiration. I am addicted to her posts and her beautiful photography and love her dedication to her family (big Hi to Marti!). I wish we were all eating, drinking and chatting together as it would be a great party. Instead I am helping a friend at a jumble sale for Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital and this evening I am at a fundraising event for my son's scout group... it's bingo night!

I was going to amke the easiest ever Key Lime Pie recipe that my friend gave me but instead I have made chocolate refrigerator cake for Deb's party and I am taking the left overs to the bingo. I chose this recipe as my mum used to make something similar and we called it chocolate crunch. It made an appearance at all church teas and lots of celebrations.

I like it as it uses store cupboard ingredients that are readily available, it is simple to make and easily transportable.....

firstly I took a packet of digestive biscuits (400g) I think these are similar to Graham Crackers but I have made this recipe with any biscuits/cookies I have to hand in the past

I placed the biscuits in a plastic bag and bashed them with a wooden rolling pin

To a saucepan I added 175g of butter (margarine will do), 250g of golden syrup and 500g of dark chocolate (I have used a mixture of dark and milk before)... boy half a kilo of chocolate!!

heat gently and stir until melted

add 300g of dried fruit, I have used a mixture of sultanas and cherries as this is what I had in the cupboard but you can use anything or substitute some for nuts or marshmallows

stir the biscuits and dried fruit into the melted choccy mix then place in a lined tin and leave overnight in the fridge to harden

the next day chop the choccy fridge cake into pieces and enjoy

Obviously I had to sample my cooking before offering it to you, mine is served with a cup of tea in my patriotic mug, in my sunny English spring garden.

It has been lovely to have you here today and I hope you will pop over to visit again, enjoy the blog hop next up is Margaret. I hope to be able to visit everyone at the party this weekend, enjoy it wherever you are and thank you for having me Deb xxx

Family 12x12 blog hop March 2012

Time for the March family x 12 blog hop hosted by Margie... where has that month gone???

February included a family holiday for a week in Suffolk with my parents. We had really variable weather including snow.....

that's us on Dunwich beach, I don't think I can remember being in the snow and on the beach ever before!! Can anyone guess what we are trying to spell?? They wouldn't pose long enough for me to get a better shot!

We also saw some sunsets......

although it was still cold and not long after this photo was taken we found that the car battery was flat and we had to get help! By then it was pitch black and we were cold and damp in a car park in the middle of nowhere!

I think this is my favourite family shot for February

This 'Bronze' is titled 'the Family of Man', is by Barbara Hepworth and is found in the grounds of Snape Maltings, The photo was taken by my Dad and I have an alternative version where he stands in the same spot as me!

My post layout is not quite going to plan (I blame blogger!!) so I do apologise but hope that you will continue hopping round visiting all the other family photographers this month

Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog
Moncia http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com
Ruth http://www.chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.com
Jo http://www.mrsbeee.blogspot.com
Jill http://jillconyers.com
Patricia http://patoliveira.woodpress.com/

Thanks for visiting today and I hope to see you for April's family x 12 blog hop (please contact Margie if you would like to join in)

Story Telling Sunday April

It was an ordinary day, just like any other. In fact so indistinguishable from any other day that I cannot tell you the date or even the day now. I was home alone, the children were at school, husband at work, a normal afternoon. The telephone rang and I answered it. I had won a holiday!

Off course I had won holidays before, I was familiar with the cold call announcing an amazing win. The caller always explained the fabulous prize, then explained the catch! Sometimes a compulsory attendance for 2 people at a London based seminar (read sales event) and/ or all flights and taxes had to be paid by me ......... so not really a free holiday at all!!

This caller claimed to be from a travel agent (one I had never heard off),she said I had won a holiday for 2 people to New Zealand (not very believable) and that it was the prize in a competition I had entered (which I didn't even recall!) I listened intently for the catch to come but it didn't. I gave a few of my details said I would discuss it with my husband and the 'travel agent' would call me again.

I immediately looked up the travel agency online and it seemed to be real. I looked up the competition I had entered and it clearly existed, the prize from an online lingerie company no less... a holiday of a lifetime and rather expensive swimwear. I spoke to my husband and we decided to watch and wait.

I was still in denial when we arrived at the airport, I expected to be told there were no flights, no holiday and no win. But it was all real! I had indeed won an all expenses trip for a week to New

Zealand.

We didn't take many photos, we missed the children dreadfully, we wished we had extended our stay (we did manage 10 days in the end) and we really loved the small part of New Zealand we saw.

Hundreds of dolphins (with a few whales) on a boat trip from Auckland

A vineyard tour on the Island of Waiheke

A rainbow over the Coromandel

This is my second story about winning, last month was all about my mum winning a car, this time it was all about me! I think our winning streak has now run out! Also just in case you are interested I never did get any of the expensive swimwear I was meant to win but it didn't really matter!

Please visit Sian's blog from High in the sky for more story telling Sunday tales from around the globe xxx

Story Telling Sunday March

Why do some people have all the luck???

Have you ever been a winner? Have you ever known someone personally that has won the lottery or won something else amazing?? Actually I have!

source

Many years ago when I was in my early teens, the biggest supermarket ever in the UK was built nearby. When it first opened there were loads of promotions and in store competitions. The main object of everyone's desire was a car, a brand new mini and many people entered multiple times, repeatedly writing their details on paper and posting them in the contest box.

There was a grand presentation of the car and a celebrity to present the keys. The winner had posted one entry only. The family that won were due to go on their annual camping holiday, so arrived with their ancient estate car full of equipment. The press were there and took fake photos, they made the dad stoop as he was taller than the celebrity. They reported the story incorrectly, the wrong model of car, the wrong colour and quoted the mother inaccurately.

source

Kenneth Williams was the celebrity ( hands up who remembers him from all those fabulous Carry On films???). He was fantastic with the family putting them at ease prior to the presentation and telling them funny stories. He asked if they had packed everything and said once he travelled abroad and had forgotten his socks, he sent his aide to buy some from a local marketplace, he wore the socks in the heat and the dye came out and he had dark blue feet for the rest of his trip..... a very funny man! He has sadly passed away now but he did write 'the Kenneth Williams Diaries' but his day out at an Essex supermarket did not feature!!

Todays true story was brought to you by Sian's Story Telling Sunday check her blog for many more terrific tales. Come back next month as I think there may be another 'winning' story.